THE TIKTOK TRENDS ACTUALLY WORTH KNOWING
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Trinket GirlieBeing a trinket girlie isn’t about clutter; it’s about character. Jane Birkin’s iconic basket bag exemplifies this best: always overflowing with ribbons, keyrings and lucky charms. It wasn’t polished, but it was personal. That same spirit is everywhere again. Tiny plushies on bags, sparkly keychains, cartoonish charms dangling from phones and water bottles. Each trinket tells a story, adds texture and sparks joy. It’s maximalism on a micro scale, but deeply considered. Whether it’s a Sonny Angel or a friendship bracelet, it says: this is mine. In a sea of sleek accessories and curated minimalism, trinkets bring back a sense of play. After all, what’s more stylish than wearing your weird little heart on your sleeve?

SardinecoreMove over, Tomato Girl! Sardine Girl Summer has entered the chat. Sardinecore is 2025’s fishiest trend, blending coastal kitsch, internet irony and a surprising amount of charm. The look? Think sardine-print skirts, tin-shaped bags, and accessories that wouldn’t look out of place at a Mediterranean fish market (but, crucially, don’t smell like one). It’s part fisherman chic, part mermaid. Bubbling up from TikTok’s obsession with tinned fish and fuelled by cool-girl California labels, the sardine has gone from pantry dweller to fashion muse. Whether you’re in it for the metallic sheen or just the memes, Sardine Girl Summer is less about looking polished and more about leaning into fun and irony. It’s salty, silly and self-aware.

NormcoreNormcore has been back for a while now, but Haim have given it a whole new life following the release of their new album, I Quit. We’re witnessing the rise of what can only be described as Hot Normcore: low-rise jeans, baby tees, patchwork skinnies, and jackets that scream “yes, I had a MySpace.” But it’s not just nostalgia, it’s curation. The Haim sisters aren’t cosplaying Y2K chaos; they’re reviving it. The vibe is effortless, unironic, a little crunchy but somehow still cool. Think suburban dad on a coffee run meets 2007 Alexa Chung at Glastonbury. Normcore isn’t about standing out, it’s about opting out (of try-hard fashion, at least). And in a summer full of sardine bags and other food-related trends, normcore offers relief: a chance to blend in, but to do so intentionally.

Slutty Little Glasses SummerThis trend isn’t about seeing clearly; it’s about being seen a certain way. Slutty little glasses summer has been spurred by the thin wire specs of Jonathan Bailey in David Koepp’s Jurassic World Rebirth and Drew Starkey in Luca Guadagnino’s Queer. These spectacled gents signal intelligence, confidence, and just the right amount of thirst-trap energy. Born from a mix of vintage film nostalgia and TikTok’s obsession with emotionally intelligent men, Slutty Little Glasses Summer is flirty and quietly hot, perfect for pretending you’re the main character in a romantic academic drama.

Anthony Bourdain AutumnIs it too early to be thinking about autumn? Potentially. But it’s always nice to be ahead of the curve. Anthony Bourdain Autumn comes around every year and it’s less about seasonal trends and more about attitude. It’s for anyone mourning the end of warm summer nights but craving something a little slower and sexier. Picture this: leather jacket on, black coffee in hand, loaf of bread tucked under one arm, and nowhere urgent to be. You’re perched at a café, quietly judging everyone who walks past, not out of cruelty, but curiosity. You’re observing the world, not rushing through it. It’s romantic and solitary, without being lonely. Inspired by Bourdain’s signature blend of cynicism and tenderness, this is autumn for people who prefer understated pleasures and a vaguely Parisian aesthetic. You’re leaning in. Sitting. Sipping. People-watching. Feeling your feelings. And maybe, just maybe, catching a really good moment.

Halima Anita is culture editor at Dazed magazine and founder of Ashamed, a zine for and by people of color.